Other

Tice Engineering and Sales, Inc.

William A Tice

Moshe Shloush

Mark E Stapel

Gregory A Davis

Burton L Grocke

An electronically geared felling machine employs physical separation of the needles and loopers to provide significant ergonomic and functional advantages. The felling machine includes a needle servo motor for driving the needles in a sewing motion and a looper servo motor for driving the loopers in their sewing motion. The motion of the needles and loopers are electronically geared to enable these sewing parts to move in concert to produce a plurality of stitchings in materials. Materials may be moved through the sewing area of the felling machine by use of feed rollers positioned fore and aft of the needles. The feed rollers are driven by servo motors. Pneumatic cylinders urge the feed rollers downwardly against the materials to enable the feed rollers to maintain continuous contact with the materials and to maintain continuous movement of the materials through the sewing area of the machine. Electronic gearing of the felling machine's sewing parts is enabled by a computer which uses servo motor positional information to calculate motion commands that are sent to the servo motors.

Felling machine

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for electronically gearing the sewing parts of a sewing machine, and more particularly it relates to electronically gearing the bobbin to the needle to eliminate the necessity of their physical coupling through mechanical linkages and drive shafts. Servo motors provide torque to the needle, bobbin, and various other sewing parts of the sewing machine which require concerted movement. A computer uses servo motor positional information to calculate motion commands that are sent to the needle and bobbin servo motors, thereby enabling electronic gearing of the bobbin to the needle so that each moves substantially in unison. Motion commands sent to servo motors attached to various other sewing parts of the sewing machine are based on servo motor positional information to enable the sewing parts to move in concert with the needle and bobbin. Servo motors move the sewing material in two dimensions during stitching, and each move of the sewing material is calculated to consume the maximum amount of time available between stitches in order to dampen acceleration and deceleration of sewing parts and eliminate problems associated with machine jerk.

Electronically geared sewing machine

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for electronically gearing the sewing parts of a sewing machine, and more particularly it relates to electronically gearing the bobbin to the needle to eliminate the necessity of their physical coupling through mechanical linkages and drive shafts. Servo motors provide torque to the needle, bobbin, and various other sewing parts of the sewing machine which require concerted movement. A computer uses servo motor positional information to calculate motion commands that are sent to the needle and bobbin servo motors, thereby enabling electronic gearing of the bobbin to the needle so that each moves substantially in unison. Motion commands sent to servo motors attached to various other sewing parts of the sewing machine are based on servo motor positional information to enable the sewing parts to move in concert with the needle and bobbin. Servo motors move the fabric in two dimensions during stitching, and each move of the fabric is calculated to consume the maximum amount of time available between stitches in order to dampen acceleration and deceleration of sewing parts and eliminate problems associated with machine jerk.

A pneumatic table that adjusts to various positions. Pneumatic cylinders controlled by a pneumatic system raise and lower the tabletop to a desired position. Brakes are used to lock the tabletop once it is in its desired position. The tabletop tilts forward and backward to vary the operating position of a piece of machinery located on the tabletop. A self-adjusting foot treadle adjusts when the tabletop height is changed such that the linkage between the treadle and the tabletop is maintained. The treadle also adjusts to various positions for the comfort of the operator.

Table with height and tilt adjust

An apparatus for feeding and folding cards from a card supply to a work surface at which the cards are utilized in a folded configuration in a work cycle. The cards are delivered to the work surface by a delivery mechanism and a folding device folds the cards as they are delivered to the work surface so that the cards are in the folded configuration when they arrive for utilization in the work cycle. Structure is provided for holding the cards in the folded configuration at the work surface.

Card feeding and folding apparatus

An apparatus and method for cutting and sealing belt loop ends includes sealing and cutting members disposed on opposite sides of a length of fabric belt loop material formed wholly or partly of a heat sealable material. The sealing and cutting members are urged together in a scissor-like fashion to cut the strip across its width. The members are also configured to compress regions of the strip adjacent the cut ends. At least one of the sealing and cutting members is heated and the heat is transferred from the members to the compressed region adjacent the ends to melt or soften at least a portion of the meltable material. The melted or softened material merges or intermingles with the threads of the fabric in the compressed regions and upon cooling hardens to effect a seal of the belt loop at the cut ends. The seal substantially prevents the fabric from unraveling during subsequent laundering and wear. The invention may be used with a belt loop folding and feeding mechanism located adjacent a sewing station to prepare individual belt loops having sealed ends for being folded and then fed to the sewing station.

Apparatus and method for cutting and sealing belt loop ends and belt

An apparatus and method are disclosed for feeding cards, and the like, to a sewing surface. Cards are advanced to the sewing surface by a reciprocating delivery mechanism and, as a card moves toward the sewing surface, a folding block moves into the path of the card and folds it. Located adjacent the sewing surface is a gripper that receives the folded card from the delivery mechanism and holds it above the sewing surface. Once the gripper receives the card, the delivery mechanism retracts away from the sewing surface and returns to pick up another card. Activating a sewing operation at the sewing surface causes the gripper to release the card and retract away from the sewing surface. Removal of the card from the sewing surface activates the delivery mechanism which delivers the next card to the sewing surface.

Card feeding apparatus

A system for positioning the needle of a high speed stitching machine includes a pitman assembly connected to a foot pedal and extending upwardly therefrom. A piston-cylinder device is interposed between the pitman assembly and a brake actuating mechanism for a main drive motor. A valve is secured to the pitman assembly in proximity to a stationary member. The valve is connected in fluid communication with the piston-cylinder device and a needle positioning mechanism.

Needle positioner for high speed stitching machines

A needle positioner for a stitching machine for positioning of such needle selectively in an up or down position. The positioner is pneumatically powered and adapted to be installed on existing machines. The needle positioner functions to selectively position the needle in an up position or a down position. The stitching mechanism includes an air motor for reciprocating the drive shaft of the stitching mechanism. Two pneumatic cylinders are disposed proximate the drive shaft so that when the piston rods of the cylinders are extended, they contact the drive shaft and interrupt rotation of the drive shaft stopping the needle in an up position or a down position. The needle positioner also includes valves in the pneumatic circuit between a source of pressurized fluid and the pneumatic cylinders for directing the flow of air to a desired one of the two cylinders. The valves are operated by a pedal device which allows an operator of the stitching machine to activate the valves and select to stop the needle in its up or down position.

Dual position needle positioner for stitching machines

Improved apparatus for positioning the needle of a stitching machine in a preselected position along its reciprocatory path including a pneumatically powered positioning motor connected to the drive shaft for the needle, a source of pressurized fluid (preferably air), conduit means connecting the source of pressurized fluid to the positioning motor, normally closed valve means interposed in the conduit means, and control means also interposed in the conduit means at a location between the valve means and the positioning motor and adaptable to activate and deactivate the motor for positioning the needle. Apparatus is provided to enhance the reliability and speed of start-up of the positioning motor and to enhance the accuracy of the position of the needle relative to its desired position at the end of a positioning cycle.

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Knoxville, TN, United States of America

William A Tice